| abstract |
This invention relates to the modification of elastomers by reaction with unsaturated silanes, to the modified elastomers produced and to articles produced by shaping and curing modified elastomer compositions. It also relates to the use of unsaturated silanes as coupling agents in filled elastomer compositions. In a process according to the present invention, the silane has the formula: R"-CH=CH-C(O)X-Y-SiR a R' (3-a) (I) or R"-C≡C-C(O)X-Y-SiR a R' (3-a) (II) in which R represents a hydrolysable group; R' represents a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; a has a value in the range 1 to 3 inclusive; Y represents a divalent organic spacer linkage comprising at least one carbon atom separating the linkage -C(O)X- from the Si atom, X is selected from S or O; and R" represents hydrogen or a group having an electron withdrawing effect with respect to the -CH=CH- or -C≡C- bond. This provides silanes able to react efficiently with a diene elastomer in the presence of a free radical initiator. |